Typewriting machine



April 11, 1944- I M. w. NEWBERRY 2,346,323

TYPEWRITING MACHINE' Filed March 30, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORM6765 l1! Win 558?) BY K ATTORNEY TYPEWRI'IING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR M4765 Y W NEWEEEQY ATTORNEY April 1 M. w. NEWBERRY ,346,323

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed March 30, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fo STENCIL I IINVENTOR M6765 If! WEWEI??? BY =1". v :)TTORNEY Patented A t. 11, 1944 UN [TE D STAT ES OF F l CE TYPEWRITING lv'lcigs W. Newberry, South W inflsi'; Gonna-assignor to Underwood ElliottEisherflompfihy;

New York, N. .Y., a corporation of Delaware Application Mere 3'0, 1942',serainessi 12 Claims. (01. rat-i5 7) Thisinvention relates to devices,in typewritirrg machines and the like, for the selective control of thebi-chrome ribbon-vibrator mechanism, providing'for ribbon color-bandselection/and for rendering the'vibrator inactive for stencil typing.

Selective control devices of ribbon-vibrator mebhanism's'u'sually have asingle control element such as a finger knob or pointer movable alon adial on which indicia for black, fred and stencil, arranged in sequence,represent the several settings for the control element. These'lec'tionof'the desired one of these three settings is made 'by movingthe knob or pointer in a lineal path along the dial to the desiredindiia, from whichever position the knob may be. The more often-usedsetting is the change from "black to red or vice versa, thestencilsetting being only infrequently used. However, their;- clus'ion of thestencil-setting position within the range of regula r movementof theselecting element, often in' the middle position of the series', makesfor an occasional wrongful setting at 'stencil wl1en,:in fact, one ofthe color settings is desired. Although this erroneous setting isavoidable with care, the usual tendency is to operate the controlelement in a carefree manher, as by a flip of the finger.

Inview ofthe foregoing, the presentinvention is directed: toproVi'de animproved control: mechanism which virtually eliminates the chance ofunintentionally setting the control "element :for stenciling by havingthis setting made with a substantially 'difierent manipulation than thesettings for the often-used bichriome color-band selection.

The invention is further directed to provide a 'ribbon-controlselectionwhich'does not require careful manipulation and which so readilydistingliishes'the differentsettings,particularly that for s'tencilin'g,as to'be settabl'e accurately just by feel, or without observing anydial: indicia.

Another objeet is to provide a simple and-"re liably operative mechanismfor selecting and controlling thethrow fof the 'ribloon-vibrator, and inwlhich the selection of ribboni'cgil0ribands; i determined by variouslypositioning "the j control member in the same setting pane-memeselection for stenciling isdetermined by setting the control'memberput"of 'said plane,

'More specifically, lth e j invention "provides .an improvedribbon-vibrating mechanism and its control devica'so organized-that th jtingelemenu of the control device, .1n}maling j.a e org band selection,ma'y'h'e rotated on its 'afiisto either time ,coloriideterminingpositions and rehuirefsfrnovement axially," that is; a substanti'a flydifferent manipulation; for setting to the stemil nejp sitiofia ,Furtherobjects will be apparent as the specificationlproceeds,

iIn the drawings) r z Figurefl is a rronteelevati n'al view of theselectively controlled r ibbo vibrator mechanism of thelinveritionlembodied n .a typewriter, the control device: being set ior black with thevibrator mechanism quiescent, I

v.Ei'glirfie.2.i'sla side elevatibn of the mechanism, as viewedon .line2- -2 o f; l, I

FigureB is a fragmentary s ide el evational view similari'.to ,l'igurel2 but showing the control device se t lor stencilf A I ieu e 1a-i qn 11 1 1 1 Figure l andwith the control device set ior black, butshowing the .vibrator o rnechanism actuated incident to a type-keyoperatidny e Figure 5 is-afragmentaryiront-elevation showing the controlmechanism set for" black? as viewed from .in front of its settingelementor k ob partly broken :away to facilitate illustration,

Figure "6 is 2'8," view .;similar :to: Figure .4 'butfhavingzthercontroldevice set forred; and

Figure? is a' view similar to Figure "5' but showing themechanisin'setfor red.

The ribbon vibratdrmechanism embodying the inventionis'ractuated"incident: to the' operation of any type-lkeyle'verf theusual manner, the key lever movinga universal bar whieh is operativelyconnected to a vertieally -reciprocatory ribbon guide or vibrator;Thus"; upon" the operation of any 'typejkey 'lever, the ribbon is causedto be raised to the typingfline as the-type-bar' approaches the platenfthe' ribbon then -receding to its? uies entosmos below" the typing lineas een "f ,12 P i ivtes i n'i im A o'nt el e ic P 1Y i, ne;t va us "r 1...Q' ns b ingmeiranisin'inactive, "for typing stencil .orMimeograr'ahsheets. I

is shown in Figures 1 and 2" a ;1 e lever :8, typical of allftl'ie'itypekeyile' ofltheft ypea is' fulcruine'cl' n a bar 9 and arranged to engageand" actuate a" universal bar 'mmoimteq togrock' on trunnionsll l. ,A"link 12 operativ'ely connects the tiiniversal 1115i" 10 to a lever,l3;ialso,pivotedfatffigandfleiiibly;connected to iavertica11yIreciprotatory aetiiator' M, a spring 15' ae'tingto restorethe'univers'al bar'and'asso ciated mechanism to quiescent position. Theactuator 4 reaches upwardly from its connection to the lever l3 and hasits upper end slidably engaging a control shaft Hi, the actuatorpresenting a slot H, the sides of which are arranged to ride on theshaft between groove-forming collars |8 thereon.

When the control mechanism is set for one or the other color band, asshown; in Figures 1 and 2, the actuator I4 is in position to coact witha driven member or lever 26 which is operatively connected to a ribbonguide or vibrator 2| to actuate same. This operative connection includesspring 46 anchored at 41 and acting on a detent a shaft 22 on which thelever is secured, the i shaft being journaled in a bearing bracket 23and having a second lever 24-s'ecured-thereon.

The mounting for the ribbon-guide-ZI includes a two equalizing levers 26and 21 flexibly'joined' at 28 and pivotally mounted at 39, 3|,-respectively, on a member 32 of the typewriter main frame, each lever26, 21 being articulated intermediate its ends to the ribbon guide 2| atpoints 33, 34. To obtain the equalizing effect, the corre spondingportions of each lever' 26, 21 are proportional in lengthythat is,expressed algebraically, length -3315 to 33-48 as 3|34 is to 3428. Thus,as lever 21 is ac'tuate'd,the point 34 of the ribbon guide is raisedand, due to the equalizingeffect of the combined levers 26, 21, point 33of the ribbon guide is raised an equal amount, thus causing the ribbonguide'2l to as-'- sume an upward rectilinear movement.

To provide for adjustment of the ribbon guide 2| laterally of themachine so that the guide may be aligned accuratelywith the printingpoint as established by the usual type guide, the pivot 3| for lever 21is adjustable laterally of the machine, being carried on a bracket 35 sosecured-on the frame member 32 that its position may be varied. Toaccommodate this adjustment at the other end of the system, lever 26presents an elongated slot engaging pivot 30. I

The operative connection between the driven member or lever 20 andtheribbon guide 2|, includes an arm 36 on lever 21, connected by a link37 to the lever 24. A spring 38 restores the vibrating mechanism toquiescent position in which the guide 2| is receded to reveal the typingline, the mechanism being at rest withza bendable tongue 39 on link 31engaged against a side member of the machine frame, as shown in Figurel. Adjustment of the quiescent position of vibrator 2| may be made bybending the tongue 39.

-Upon the operation of any type-key lever 8, with the control device setfor either color band, the ribbon-vibrating mechanism raises the ribbonguide 2| a certain extent and thus brings the selected color band to thetyping line. When the control device is set for black, the ribbon guideis raised a minor degree and the upper, black band is put at the typingline; whereas, when the device is set for red, the ribbon guide isprojected a major degree to put the lower, red band at the typing line.This variation in me stroke of the ribbon guide 2| is dependent upon thelateral position of the actuator M in relation to the lever 26. Lever 20has two drive pins 49, 4| thereon projecting into the plane of theactuator M for coaction selectively with either of two open slots in theactuator. The two driving positions of the actuator l4 are determined bythe rotative position of shaft I6 which has an oif:et portion or crank42 intermediate its ends en which the aforesaid collars I8 are arranged.The shaft I6 is rotatably and slidably member 48 loosely pivoted at 49on the bracket 43 and having an aperture 50 in which the crank 42 of theshaft is engaged. The spring 46 urges the detent member 48 upwardly,with the effect that, as the shaft is rotated to engage either side ofslot 45, Figures 5 and 7, the shaft is yieldably held in that position.

The actuator 4, incident to the operation of any type key, reciprocatesdown and up a constantly uniform stroke each time the universal bar H]is actuated. It will be observed, however, that the pin 40 is a greaterdistance from the axis of shaft 22 than is the pin 4|. Therefore, thelever 29 will be swung a lesser degree when the stroke of the actuatoris applied to the pin 40 and a greater degree when this stroke isapplied to pin 4|. In other words, when the actuator I4 is in theleftward position, in cooperation with pin 49, the vibrating mechanismis actuated a minor degree and raises the black band of the ribbon tothe typing line, see Figure 4; and when the actuator 4 is in itsrightward position, cooperating with pin 4|, the vibrating mechanism isactuated the major degree to bring the red color band of the ribbon tothe typing line, see Figure 6.

It may be here noted that the lever 20 is angularly adjustable inrelation to the lever arm 24 and the associated vibrating mechanism sothat the elevated positions of the ribbon guide 2| may on shaft 22,clamping the lever 20 to said arm.

The control shaft [6 projects forwardly through a front panel of thetypewriter and carries an operating knob 55 having a pointer thereon,see Figures 5 and 7, cooperative with indicia on the front panelindicating the two color-band settings of the control device for eitherblack or red typing. The knob 55 is rotated either to the left or to theright to set the control device to the desired color-band selection.

To set the control device for stencil, the knob 55 is pulled forwardlyso that the shaft |6 is caused to move axially in its bearings. When theshaft is so moved, as shown in Figure 3, the actuator I4, being carriedforward with the shaft by collars I8, is now in position free of thepins 4|], 4 I. Thus, when the control device is set for stenciling, noribbon impressions being desired, the ribbon-vibrating mechanism isrendered ineffective in that the actuator H is clear of the pins 40, 4|,reciprocating idly at each type-key operation, without actuating thelever 20 and associated vibrating mechanism,

The detent element 48, under influence of spring 46, also acts to detentthe shaft at its rearward axial position, Figure 2, and its forwardaxial position, Figure 3. The offset p0rtionf42 of the shaft presentstwooppositely facing, tapered annular shoulders 56 and 5'! with whichthe detent aperture 50 coactsin such manner that, under the for-tie of's'pr'ing'lB, the shaft-l6 is yildablyheld in either axial position. Theapertu're ill is amply large to permit the free passage oi theshaftmoving from one to-the oth'er position. The forward collar -8 engagesthe detent member N -when the shaft is shifted forwardly and the rearcollar P8=engages lever'20' when the shaft is shifted rearwardly.

' It will be observed that the lever 2-8 actually comprises two loversor arms: a low'er arm 'carryir'ig-the two pins 40,41 and anu 'erar'inffifi, the two being connected I at their outer ends to reenror-ceeach other. The control shaft $6 is disposed betweenthese armseirtending throng-h the aperture bounded thereby, the upper armstradling the shaft and cooperating therewith to accomplish severalfunctions.

One of these 'function's'is' that of arresting the movement of1'ever'20, and the associated'vibrating-mechanismext'endin' to theribbon vibrator, at the desired limit of stroke-forputtingsthe blackribbon'band atthe typing line.. This stroke, being of a lesserdegreethan that for thered band; can be limited best only by arresting.means that is effective only when the mechanism-is se'tfor the blackband selection and is, therefore, rendered ineffective whenthe'mechanism is'set for the red band'selection.

As seen moreclearlyinFigure l, theupper arm 58 provides a stop shoulder60 so arranged, in relation to the axis of swing 22 of 'said arm, thatsaid shoulder engages the crank 42 of shaft l6 when the latter ispositionedifor black band selection. Shoulder 60 thus arrests thevibrating mechanism when the black ribbon band is at the typing =line,Figure 4,. preventing overthrow of the ribbon guide 2| and thus avoidingtype imprints that are partly red. When the control shaft I6 is set forthe read band, its crank -is out of the-path of shoulder 60 and thisarresting means is therefore ineffective, see Figure 6.

The maximum stroke of the vibratingmechanism, had-in raising the redbandof the ribbon to the typing line, is arrestedby the engagement of "lever21 with a stop 6| secured to the member 32.

Another function of arm 58,. incooperation with the control shaft 16-,is that of locking the ribbon. vibrator 2i down in itsquiescent-position when the control mechanism is set for stenciling.While making this setting, thementioned parts will also cause thevibrator 2.! to be brought to quiescentposition, should said vibratorhave remained in any raised position instead of. fully returning to itsinactive position, due to faulty operation. As shown in Figures 2 and3', the portion of the control shaft it between the crank 42 and thebackend of shaft l6, forms an offset or cam 62. When'the control shaft I6 isshifted axially, forwardly, in setting fOr stenciling, said cam 62cooperates with the arm 58 of lever 20 in such manner as to wedge theribbon vibrator 2| into its retracted or quiescent position. As shown inFigure 3, when shaft I5 is shifted to the stenciling position, lever 20is engaged by the concentric shaft portion so that said lever is lockedat its uppermost position, corresponding to the quiescent position ofthe ribbon vibrator 2 l. The lever arm 58 is so shaped that this wedgingaction is had whether the control shaft I6 is in one angular position orthe other for either color-band selection. When positioned for selectionof the black band, the cam 62 coacts with the stop shoulder 60; and whenthe control shaft is set for the red band selection, the cam 62 coactswith that portion of arm 58 nearer the axis 22.

From the foregoing, it"wi'-ll be seen that the invention provides aselectively settable' ribbonvibrating mechani'sm,'the control device ofwhich may be'opera-ted in 'a; carefree mann r, merel'y'fby feel orwithout observing any dial indicia. Intha't asubstantiallydiiferent'rnanipulationof the-control element is required to set thedevice for st'enciling than is necessary to select either "color band,unintentional setting at fs'te'ncil is obviated, The more frequentlyusedsetting to either color band may-be made instan-taneously -by' aquick twist or the control knob, and whensten: oiling is desired thisknobm'a'y be so set, either color-band position, by m rely pullifngtheknob forwardly. "Thecolor=band"selection previously used can be quicklyrestored merely by a momentary push of the knob in that the detestmechanism of the control devicen'iaintains the" same color selectionwhether the mechanism is set foroolor'typingor'stenciling.

What isclaimed is:

1. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism rortypewriters, a ribbon vibrator;variable actuating means therefor including' 'a' control device having asetta'ble' member, said actuating'means having provisionformovingthevibrator "different 'eX- tents t0 present dlfielllfififibbfiCOI'OI BandSTGI' the type im ression upo'n setting the control membertoselective*colo'r-bahd deterrnihingip' i'- tions all in a planetransverse or the typewriter, and said actuating means having" furtherprovision' for beingdisab'ledupon moving said control member in adirection foreand' aft of the typewriter to a position out of s'aidplane.

2. In a ribbon-vibratingmechanism for typewriters, "a ribbon vibrator,variable actuating means therefor including a' control device having arotatablea'nd axial lyshiftablemember, saw actuating means havingprovision for movingth'e vibrator different extents to present differentribbon color bands forthe type impression upon rotating the controlmember tose'lect'ive color-band'- determining positions, and" saidactuating means having further provision for being disabled'uponshifting said control memberaxi'auy.

3. In' 'a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for type.- writers, a ribbonvibrator, an operating lever therefor, an actuator operable by thetyping instrumentalities, said operating lever having actu'ator-en-gageable 'poi'nts'at different distances from the lever axis,and said actuator beingsliiftable in a planeto engage sele'otivel 'y'oiie' or another of said points and being movable iii a directiontransverse to said plane to a position out of-engag'ement with saidpoints.

4. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, a ribbon vibrator,an operating, lever therefor, an actuator operable by the typinginstrumentalities, said operating lever having actuator-engageablepoints at different distances from the lever axis, said actuator beingshiftable in a plane to engage selectively one or another of said pointsand being movable in a direction transverse to said plane to a positionout of engagement with said points, and a single means for so shiftingand so moving said actuator.

5. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, a ribbon vibrator,an operating lever therefor, an actuator operable by the typinginstrumentalities, said operating lever having actuator-engageablepoints at different distances from the lever axis, said actuator beingshiftable in a plane to engage selectively one or another of said pointsand being movable in a direction transverse to said plane to a positionout of engagement with said points, and means manipulatable at theoutside of the typewriter for so shifting and so moving said actuator. a

6. In a ribbon-vibratin mechanism for typewriters, a ribbon vibrator, anoperating lever therefor, an actuator operable by the typinginstrumentalities, said operating lever having actuator-engageablepoints at difierent distances from the lever axis, said actuator beingshiftable in a plane to'engage selectively one or another of saidpoints, and a control member having a crank articulated to saidactuator, said control member being rotatable to shift the actuator forengagement selectively with the lever points, and said crank beingaxially movable to move said actuator to a position out of engagementwith the lever points.

7. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, a ribbon vibrator,an operatin lever therefor, an actuator operable by the typinginstrumentalities, said operating lever having actuator-engageablepoints at different distances from the lever axis, said actuator beingshiftable in a plane to engage selectively one or the other of saidpoints, a control member having a crank articulated to said actuator,said control member being rotatable between two positions to shift theactuator for engagement selectively with the lever points, and saidcrank being axiall movable to move said actuator to a position out ofengagement with the lever points, and a single detent means cooperatingwith said control member to yieldably hold said member in the tworotative positions and against axial movement.

8. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, a ribbon vibrator,actuating means therefor including a pivoted lever arm and having pointsthereon at different distances from the arm pivot, an actuator operableby the typing instrumentalities, in a plane parallel to said lever armand shiftable in said plane for cooperation selectively with one oranother of said arm points, said actuator being positionable in adirection substantially at right angles to said plane, in which positionsaid actuator is clear of said arm points and renders th vibratingmechanism inactive.

9. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, a ribbon vibrator,an actuating lever therefor, an actuator operable by the typinginstrumentalities, said lever having actuator-engageable points atdifferent distances from the lever axis, said actuator being shiftablein a plane to cooperate selectively with one or another of said leverpoints, a control member engaging said actuator and shiftable todifferent positions to move said actuator for cooperation selectivelywith the lever points, said control member being movable in a directiontransverse to the plane of shift of said actuator, to move saidactuatorto a position out of engagement with the lever points; and'means on saidcontrol member, eilective when the said control member is moved toposition to disengage the actuator and lever, to lock said actuatinglever against movement. I

10. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, a ribbon vibrator,an actuating lever therefor, an actuator operable by the typing in-,strumentalities, said lever having actuator-engageable points atdifferent distances from the lever axis, said actuator bein shiftable ina plane to cooperate selectively with any of said lever points, arotatable control member having an offset portion engaging saidactuator, rotation of said member efiecting the shift of the actuatorfor cooperation selectively with the lever points, said control memberbeing movable axially to operatively engage or disengage said actuatorand lever, and cam means on said control member, engageable with saidlever and effective during the movement of said member to disengage theactuator and lever, to cam said lever into quiescent position.

11. In a bichrome ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, a ribbonvibrator, an actuating lever operatively connected to said vibrator,selectively controllable means to swing said lever different extents toput one or the other ribbon color at the typing line, including anactuator operable by the typing instrumentalities, twoactuator-engageable points on said lever, said actuator being shiftablein a plane to cooperate selectively with one or the other of said leverpoints, and a control member engaging said actuator and shiftable in aplane substantially at right angles to the plane of shift of saidactuator to position said actuator for cooperation selectively with thelever points, said actuating lever presenting a shoulder engageable withsaid con trol member, in at least one shifted position of said member,to limit the swing of said lever.

12. In a ribbon-vibrating mechanism for typewriters, a ribbon vibrator,a pivoted lever arm operatively connected to said vibrator, an actuatoroperable by the typing instrumentalities, said lever arm having pointsat different distances from the arm pivot, said actuator being shiftablein a plane substantiall parallel to said lever arm to establishalternate driving connec tions with said arm in cooperation selectivelywith one or the other of said arm points, and said actuator and leverarm being relatively adjustable to positions in engagement with ordisengaged from each other to establish or disable the drivingconnections at said points.

MEIGS W. NEWBERRY.

